Dietze DD Jr , Fessler RG. Generally, they should be performed provided they do not cause or increase symptoms. Viewing 2 posts - 1 through 2 (of 2 total). said it is unrelated to my disc injury. The upper half of the thoracic spine is much less mobile than the lower section, making disc herniations in the upper thoracic spine rare. In Panchankarma for treatment of T5-T6 disc herniation. This machine creates pictures that look like slices of the area your doctor is interested in. It is to the point of an Extreme stabbing pain from the t5-t6 area straight thru my body to the front of my chest. The intervertebral disc is a specialized connective tissue structure that separates the vertebral bodies. These are a result of the disc impinging on, and possibly causing damage to, the motor nerves that leave the spine. You should discuss the suitability of these exercises with your physiotherapist prior to beginning them. The camera allows the surgeon to see the area where he or she is working on a TV screen. You're so right. T3 vertebrae: the pectoral area in the chest. X-rays show the bones. He began professionally writing in 2009 for Demand Studios as a freelance writer on issues in health and medicine. They typically get affected when the disc is directly impinging on the spinal cord itself, and are usually indications for more serious treatment, such as surgery. Disc gives symptoms, when there is some compression on the nearby neural tissues because of the change in the disc. I had pins and needles in my mid back along with some burning pain. However, some surgeries require patients to stay in the hospital for a few days. Have you been getting stabbing pains in the chest area? not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in Introduction. Is the MRI report innocent enough like my orthopedic states? Although a herniated disc is different than annular tear, an annular tear can signal the start of a herniated disc. As a result, the disc material is often pushed directly toward the spinal cord. Many put feeling s down to anxiety cause that's an easy answer they then don't need to look for anything else. Do I just wait this out? Tingling or numbness is felt in the hands, arms, feet or legs. Ligaments are strong connective tissues that attach bones to other bones. Thoracic disc herniation occurs when a thoracic disc bulges out from between your vertebrae. and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified All rights reserved. The second base of theAyurvedic Treatment for T5-T6 slip disc is Panchakarma. Though he only looked at my films and did not read my report. Is there any advice that you would give me on how to live with this? The foramen are important passageways that are normally open, allowing nerve roots to exit . Symptoms of thoracic disc herniation vary widely. Thoracic disc herniation mimicking L acute lumbar disc disease. (N.B In some cases it may be beneficial to perform this exercise every 1 or 2 hours provided the exercise does not cause or increase symptoms). Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. knowing your not the only one with these conditions is a help however i have bad days and good days but everyday is a battle and will probally continue to be . in my situation the methadone was masking many of the symptoms which made my doctors job harder ( you dont feel as much pain when your taking a powerful opioid ), but dont worry see if your doctor can try you with gabapentin which is for nerve pain .. or even better pregablin which is also for nerve pain but is also used for anxiety ( which gabapentin does not ) if you can treat the anxiety then in turn this will help physical symptoms, the symptoms you have are common with thorasic disc herniations .. and to be honest if there were more sinister causes i would imagine they would be causing more severe symptoms now. It found a herniated disc between T5-T6..specifically from the report "Central, r para central disc protrusion, at T5/T6, cord contact, but no abnormality of the cordcanal at 1.05 CM.". Left untreated, this section of the spinal cord dies, which can lead to severe problems of weakness or paralysis below the waist. i was so confused and lost about which procedure i should treat my back pain with.Dr.Corenman is just so kind to make time from his schedule to help me :')! In some cases, patients may appear to stand with their spine noticeably out of alignment as a result of the disc bulge. When treatment is well under way, regular visits to the therapist's office will end. Spinal cord injuries in the thoracic region are rare due to the rib cage protecting the spine. It isn't clear why a problem thoracic disc sometimes hardens from calcification, though past injury of the disc is one possibility. The medical term for fusion is arthrodesis. We are all different so wether we have the same health issues as others or not . Viewing 2 posts - 1 through 2 (of 2 total). About 75 percent of thoracic disc herniations occur from T8 to T12, with the majority affecting T11 and T12. another cause is the nerves in the intercostal muscle which can . The third is local spine pain from the degenerative disc disease. To understand the mechanism of a thoracic disc bulge, it is useful to liken the disc to a vanilla slice. The most rare symptom is myelopathy, the dysfunction of the spinal cord. Symptoms are typically felt in the mid back, sometimes between or around the shoulder blades and may be . I have a herniation at T5-T6, A newer symptom that has been coming on for about 4 months now and getting stronger. Re: T5-T6 Herniated Disc Extrusion. A slipped disc is also known as a 'herniated', 'ruptured' or 'prolapsed' disc. Use of the forums is subject to our Terms of Use Tingling or pain in the fingers, hands, arms, neck or shoulders. Neck stretches. This inflammation can occur for a number of reasons: A sudden sprain or strain (as in car accidents or sports injuries). Tuck your chin in as far as you can go without pain and provided you feel no more than a mild to moderate stretch (figure 4). Seeing a herniated thoracic disc on MRI is often incidental, meaning it shows up when the person has MRI testing for another problem. This is particularly more severe in the thoracic spinal cord since the spinal canal in this region is smaller compared to the cervical and lumbar region. An epidural steroid injection can hasten improvement. The spine specialist will take the findings of the MRI and correlate it to what is found upon physical and basic neurologic exam. This takes pressure off the spinal cord (decompression). Disc disease is a common problem in dogs and relatively uncommon in cats. Short description: Unsp thoracic, thoracolum and lumbosacr intvrt disc disorder The 2023 edition of ICD-10-CM M51.9 became effective on October 1, 2022. The herniated disc may press on your nerves or spinal cord. A thoracic disc may also herniate as a result of a sudden and forceful twist of the mid-back. The 2023 edition of ICD-10-CM M51.24 became effective on October 1, 2022. I was always treated with respect and explained everything throughly, that made it easy for everyone to understand. Your skin sensation, muscle strength, and reflexes are also tested. In rare cases when symptoms do arise, the main concern is whether the herniated disc is affecting the spinal cord. In: Canale ST, Beaty JH, ed. A disc is hard on outer side and soft like jelly inside. i also had the problem of coming off methadone during this period which was hell .. however i have that out of the way ( allmost still some post opiate symptoms to deal with ) and i can now come to terms with the physical symptoms i have . in all my MRI scan showed 3 slipped discs and a problem with my hip however due to my previous methadone addiction my gp(doctor) wont prescribe me anything but gabapentin and anti-inflamatorys ( which play havoc with my tummy ). PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. Because T5 nerve which emerges from the T5-T6 region also supply to the internal organs, thus these can cause some problems deep inside too. I highly recommend Dr. Corenman and the Steadman Clinic. sorry its been a while since i last posted . no your not alone .and unless you have these symptoms people ( and doctors ) dont understand, essentially each disc has a nerve coming from it and these come from the brain via the spinal cord however this is were it gets interesting each nerve from each disc goes ( and affects ) specific organs and area,s of the body for example T5/T6 affects the stomach,solar plexis and liver .and these can include dypepsia ( stomach pain ) and indegestion .. they can even ( when undiagnosed ) cause stomach ulcers ( allthough this is rare ). Few people with a thoracic disc herniation feel any symptoms or have any problems as a result of this condition. For example, a T6 spinal cord injury would impair or lose function at the T6 nerve root level and below. One patient may have only one symptom, while another can check every one of them off the list. In these cases, surgery is needed right away. Incredibly helpful info. In the thoracic spine, this condition mostly affects people between 40 and 60 years old. i was steady for 4 years after until I had a mild car accident causing a bit of whiplash. As a general rule, addition of exercises or progression to more advanced exercises should take place provided there is no increase in symptoms. Columbia University Department of Neurological Surgery. Aerobic exercises, such as walking or swimming, can ease pain and improve endurance. !he read all of my issue and details and his replies really helped me in decidingi am now confident about my decision and i now totally understand the procedure thanks to the in-depth information providedthank you ever so much ! Obtain Long Term Pain Relief. The patient may experience pain radiating around the ribs and into the chest, or sometimes down the arms. This test has shown doctors that many people without symptoms have thoracic disc herniations. Decreases in sensation, numbness or tingling sensations have all been reported by people with thoracic spine degeneration. Causes. In the middle of the disc lies a soft jelly-like substance which is capable of changing shape. spinal disc herniation 3 herniated disc Disc Herniation treatment herniated disc thorasic spine mild cervical disc herniation and thecal sac C6-7 fusion vs artificial disk replacement Disc Herniation L5-S5 and Disc Protrusion L4-5, do you think it's serious (MRI images applied) broken spine recovery herniated disc C5-6, small bulges C3-4 C4-5 There are common symptoms of thoracic spinal stenosis, but not every individual will experience them the same way. If the disc starts to put pressure on the spinal cord or on the blood vessels going to the spinal cord, severe neurological symptoms can develop rapidly. Sorry this is so long by the way! In cases of persisting or worsening neurological symptoms (pins and needles, numbness and weakness), surgery may be indicated. Compression fractures of the spine usually occur at the bottom part of the thoracic spine (T11 and T12) and the first vertebra of the lumbar spine (L1). A small disc herniation at T5-6 can cause three different types of symptoms. Pain in the upper or middle part of your back or your chest, Band-like pain travelling from the back to the abdomen/chest on one or both sides of the body, Headaches when you sit or lie in certain positions, Numbness, tingling, or a burning feeling in your legs, Trouble urinating or having a bowel movement. Perhaps there is some reason other than what is found on the MRI that causes your surgeon to say the cervical issues are inoperable. To relieve pain and pressure from a herniated disk near the neck, people can try the following exercise: Sit upright in a chair and move the chin toward the chest, then back . Location: West Michigan. Your doctor will probably have a physical therapist direct your rehabilitation program. Additionally, improper lifting or strain can cause a herniated disc. These stabbing pains in my chest area have been relentlesson and off but absolutely ongoing. If you have a herniated disk in your lumbar spine, the pain might come down your leg, down your butt, over the hip and down the leg, says Dr. Pelle. It found a herniated disc between T5-T6..specifically from the report Central, r para central disc protrusion, at T5/T6, cord contact, but no abnormality of the cordcanal at 1.05 CM.. Thoracic herniated discs occur in the thoracic spine, which is made up of the 12 vertebrae that extend from the base of your neck to the bottom of your rib cage. Expect at least six months before the symptoms are significantly better. Diagnosis begins with a complete history and physical examination. Were you getting these same symptoms as well? We want the forums to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the forums are . The images provide more information about calcified discs. Depending on where the herniated disk is, it can result in pain, numbness, or weakness in an arm or leg. You begin leaking urine or bowel movement, and it is not normal for you. I had mild burning in area for 2 weeks. For more details see Become a Member. one test i would ask for is a ECG to check your heart if thats ok then its probally the thorasic disc herniation thats causing the problems ( since the t7 t8 discs are mid way up the spine they cause symptoms to parts of the body in that area ) .. finally the headaches may be caused by a problem with one of the discs in the neck ( headaches are common place with neck disc herniations ). im attaching a image which will show you how each disc can affect certain parts of the body anxiety is normal with disc problems .. however i came off methadone ( after taking it for 8 years ) while having undiagnosed thorasic disc herniations,so as you can imagine i was pretty anxious and also had to put up with having to come off one of the strongest painkillers around and then the associated anxiety that comes with it, i am now on 600mg of gapapentin daily and 750mg of naproxen daily which seem to be doing the job i also take 30mg to 40mg of buscopan which relaxes the stomach ( you can buy these over the counter however your gp should be able to prescribe these if you ask ), does the pain move when you have a meal or snack this would be interesting to know, anyway i wish you well sara and have a wonderful xmas, Thank you so much for this!!!!! It should also be noted that a severe strain of a muscle between ribs (intercostal muscle) may cause an intercostal nerve to become inflamed, painful, and possibly make breathing more difficult. The center, called the nucleus, is spongy. Between each vertebra in our spine are discs that keep it supple. Symptoms are typically felt in the mid back, sometimes between or around the shoulder blades and may be located centrally, on one side or on both sides of the spine. I had my TLIF surgery on 6/24/2020 by Dr. Corenman, I can not say enough good things about the Dr or his staff. Discs are spongy cushions between the vertebrae in your spine. Many years ago an osteopath pressed on my thoracic spine and i felt/heard a pop. The MRI machine uses magnetic waves rather than X-rays to show the soft tissues of the body. The thoracic spine is made up of 12 segments total between the cervical and lumbar levels. Neural exit foramina and spinal canal adequate. A herniated disc abutting the spinal cord is a diagnostic conclusion mostly seen on spinal MRI reports for back and neck pain sufferers. For people who do have symptoms, the symptoms tend to improve over time. Alternatively, the same conclusion may be stated in any of the following language: herniated disc touching the spinal cord, herniated disc effacing the spinal cord or herniated disc encroaching upon the spinal cord. It is absolutely scary! A large disc herniation in the cervical spine may compress the spinal cord within the spinal canal and cause numbness, stiffness, and weakness in the legs and possibly . We experienced a case of thoracic disc herniation (T4/5 and T6/7) characterized by posture-related dynamic changes in neurological symptoms; that is, numbness extending from the trunk to the entire lower limbs was deteriorated in the standing and sitting positions, was relieved in the supine position, and disappeared in the prone position. The average time to diagnose a thoracic herniated disc is usually 4 to 6 months. Begin sitting or standing tall with your back straight. This approach gives the surgeon a clear view of the disc. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. The brain exchanges electrical signals with the rest of the body via the spinal cord. Symptoms of T6-T7 herniated disc. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books. The treatment sessions help patients learn to move and do routine activities without putting extra strain on the back. These include questions about where you feel pain, if you have numbness or weakness in your arms or legs, and if you are having any problems with bowel or bladder function. The pain is usually located in the upper back, corresponding to the location of the thoracic spine, or can be felt along the ribs if a nerve exiting the spinal cord is compressed by the disc. I was always treated with respect and explained everything throughly, that made it easy for everyone to understand. Thoracic disc herniation occurs when a thoracic disc bulges out from between your vertebrae. They should be cautious about overdoing activities in the first few weeks after surgery. I am ok most days but my spine is very oversensitive along the bony parts, and even my bra strap hurts it sometimes. Here is my MRI results: At T6-7 moderate sized left paracentral disc herniation which moderately idenents the left ventral hemicord causing mile to moderate focal cord compression but without significant central spinal canal stenosis. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a herniated thoracic disc presenting as the pain of chronic pancreatitis. Herniated Disc Compressing the Spinal Cord Details The spinal canal has enough room for all the neurological structures and cerebral spinal fluid to be safely protected. Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. The dye can improve the accuracy of a standard CT scan for diagnosing a herniated thoracic disc. The most common symptoms include: Extreme weakness in one or both legs and/or feet. The spinal cord and nerves' correlation to these levels . This is the most common symptom of a thoracic herniated disc. Disc degenerative changes anteriorly at T8-T9 with marrow endplate changes are notedas well.A posterior desiccated disc extrusion centrally is noted at T7-T8 with mild dural sac compression and no direct cord impingement. The spinal canal is narrow in the thoracic spine. The main section of each vertebra is a round block of bone, called the vertebral body. This helps me so much! Generally it is thought that natural treatment is all about using the natural things or products in the treatment, not very true. If you recognize any of the symptoms of thoracic hemangioma in yourself, or if you have been . When it comes to T5-T6 disc herniations, the symptoms are not aggressive. Unlike the upper parts of the thoracic region- T4-T5 and T5-T6; T6-T7 region is more exposed to disc problems. Until unless the compression is not severe in this region. I had my TLIF surgery on 6/24/2020 by Dr. Corenman, I can not say enough good things about the Dr or his staff. Before I got the MRI that showed what's going on, I was only getting some neck pain and mostly chest pain (which is why I got the MRI to begin with), and some random muscle pains in my arms but nothing like how I feel it now. Unfortunately. These are comparatively more prominent in the lower extremities. If your radiculopathy is being caused by foramen narrowing or a herniated disc, treatment will likely involve a combination of rest, anti-inflammatory medications and targeted physical therapy . Your disorder as described and symptoms are not serious and you can use common treatment methods. If so, what are your recommend conservative treatment options? The discs lose their elasticity and thickness, and while the thoracic spine is the least likely segment of the spine to suffer such changes, it does occur. In a normal upright position, I did not have any pain and only had severe muscle tightness when I went into flexion. Learn How Bone Growth Therapy Can Help You, Get a Comprehensive Evaluation from Mayo Clinic's Spine Care Experts. Reviewed December 2013. Pain. LOL, That's exactly it!!! And in some cases the severe herniated disc may remain silent and only diagnosed incidentally during . Vaidya Dr. Pardeep Sharma is Chief Ayurvedic Physician at Sukhayu Ayurved Jaipur. Central disc protrusion is a type of herniated bulging disc affects the spinal cord and could possibly result in nervous system disorders, such as radiating pain and muscle weakness as well as other symptoms stemming from nerve irritation. As a disc's annulus ages, it tends to crack and tear. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, The End Stages of Degenerative Disc Disease, Degenerative Changes of the Thoracic Spine, Twin Boro Physical Therapy: Thoracic Degenerative Disc Disease. Spine. Another option for immobilizing the back is a back support brace worn for up to one week. So I assume this is all coming from the spine, just as you had said. The dye shows up on an X-ray. As the rehabilitation program evolves, patients do more challenging exercises. Pain that spreads into the arms or legs is sometimes relieved with oral steroids taken in tapering dosages. 5 users are following. Other intervertebral disc displacement, thoracic region. Hence, a slight compression will lead to symptoms. Many people have no symptoms from a herniated disk. Surgeons may recommend surgery if patients aren't getting better with nonsurgical treatment, or if the problem is becoming more severe. A cervical herniated disc may put pressure on a cervical spinal nerve and can cause symptoms like pain, pins and needles, numbness or weakness in the neck, shoulders, or arms.